Recognized in the breaking of the bread
Third Sunday of Easter (A): Lectionary 46
Jesus was recognized in the breaking of the bread.
“We who are raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord’s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist” (CCC 1322). The way we celebrate this has been largely unchanged for all of Christian history. St. Justin Martyr wrote to the pagan emperor Antoninus Pius around the year 155, explaining what Christians did:
- On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.
- The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits.
- He who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.
- Then we all rise together and offer prayer for ourselves… and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.
- When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.
- Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.
- He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and[] gives thanks that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.
- When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: ‘Amen.’ (amen amen – we sing)
- When he who presides has given thanks… those whom we call deacons give to those present the “eucharisted” bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.
- We call this food Eucharist, and no one may take part in it unless he believes that what we teach is true, has received baptism for the forgiveness of sins and new birth, and lives in keeping with what Christ taught.
As you can see, nothing has really changed in 1868 years.
I would like to offer some practical instruction today:
- Holy Communion is for those who believe that what we teach is true, have received baptism for the forgiveness of sins and new birth, and live in keeping with what Christ taught. It is not open to those who might hold a different understanding, who are not baptized, or who are not living in keeping with what Christ taught.
- Now that we are returning to normal communion, we have received a reminder that communion is not the proper time for a blessing. We have developed a habit in the past of offering a blessing during communion for those who do not receive. You will not be chastised, and we will offer a prayer for any who do not receive, but we encourage you to remain seated or kneeling if you are not receiving communion for any reason; maybe you miss-timed things and ate less than one hour ago, or the Lord revealed that you have some sin requiring confession: simply stay in place, and receive the common blessing at the end of mass. But, of course, it is fine to bring your children with you!
- When you come forward to receive communion, please make a proper throne for Jesus if you are able. Do not take the host as if picking up a french fry, but make a nice flat place upon which he may sit. And really flat – not sloping so he might fall to the ground. We are often terrified that our Lord will fall to the ground.
- When we receive, our proper response to “The Body of Christ” is “Amen.” We do not translate this into I accept, so be it, or yes, nor do we express theologically that we are the body of Christ. These are all true, but we simply say “Amen”. This is our tradition.
- It is up to you to receive the Eucharist as bread, as wine, or both. Christ is fully present in either, and there is nothing wrong with receiving Holy Communion in only one species.
I also have a couple of questions for you to ponder.
First: when you are speaking with others, does your heart ever burn with love and with zeal for God? If your heart is sometimes aflame with love do you tell your friends and family? I encourage you to share with others the things that make your heart burn with love. If you are not experiencing this burning flame of love, then perhaps you might consider why. Perhaps God is hiding from you, to help you to learn to desire God more. Or, perhaps your conversations need to change, in order for Jesus to be more welcome. For most of us, I think that if we will talk about spiritual things more, then Jesus will draw near to us, and join in the conversation. Sometimes it may be that Jesus comes to us through a person, and other times it may be that he comes to us invisibly and spiritually. Both are good and beautiful. May our conversations make him welcome.
Second: when did you last encounter Jesus? He is waiting to encounter us. He is waiting to surprise us. He is waiting to love us. The disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with him for a few hours, then invited him to dinner, and did not recognize that it was Jesus. I wonder how often we have encountered Jesus, but did not recognize him. At the last judgment, Jesus will tell us about the times we were kind to him without recognizing his presence, and the times we failed to be kind, perhaps because we did not recognize him. As Peter shows in today’s first reading, we need to know the scriptures in order to encounter and recognize Jesus.
Jesus has died and has risen, Alleluia (another word we don’t translate) – as we travel onward, let’s invite Jesus to join us. Let’s receive him well, and joyfully. Let’s ask Jesus to help us to see him in his many disguises as the least among us, in the Eucharist, and in the Scriptures.
